Fright Night: Is It a Night Terror?

You’re sound asleep when you suddenly wake, filled with dread. You’re scared enough that you might sit up straight, shout, or scream — but when your bed partner asks what’s wrong, you have no idea and can’t remember.

This was probably no ordinary nightmare: It was a night terror.

Night Terrors: More Than A Nightmare

Night terrors are sleep disturbances that can occur in just about anyone, though they are most likely to affect children between ages 3 and 7. Night terrors are different from nightmares: Unlike a nightmare, a night terror is not technically a dream, but instead a sudden, fearful reaction that happens during sleep. Nightmares tend to occur in the early morning hours, while night terrors usually take place between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m.

In adults, alcohol use may increase the odds of having a night terror.

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Night Terrors in Kids

If your child experiences a night terror, you’ll likely know it — these sleep problems are difficult to ignore. The signs of a night terror in a child are similar to those in adults, but can be more amplified. Observing someone having a night terror can be frightening in itself because of the dramatic signs. These may include:

If night terrors significantly disrupt sleep, contact your physician — you don’t need to feel like you’re living in a horror movie. The UPMC Center for Sleep Medicine offers care for both adults and children suffering from night terrors.